Rigging-clasp



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GEO. W. SOLE, OF FREEPORT, MAINE.

" Eiserne-CLASP.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 32,210, dated April 30, 1861.

l Rigging-Clasp; and I do hereby declare that the followingis a full,clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had tothe accompanying drawing this specification, inwhich- Figure l is a perspective view of the new rigging clasp showing one side thereof. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the clasp showing the opposite side thereof.

Similar letters o-f reference indicate corresponding parts in both figures.

O's making a part of This invention is a new and useful rigging clasp intended for setting up or-hauling taut the standing rigging of a vessel, and to be used instead of what is called a rope strap which is liable in about every instance to slip.

The nature of my invention consists in two semi-cylindrical gripping portions having their inside surfaces suitably grooved and connected together on one side by an adjustable strap hinge or its equivalent, in combination with a tapering link which plays through eyes on each half of said gripping portions and which operates to open or to close these portions, all as will be hereinafter fully explained.

To enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

In the accompanying drawings, A, B, represent two semi-cylindrical portions which are made of metal and cast with grooves on their inside surfaces which grooves allow these portions A, B, to grip a rope firmly and prevent the portions A, B, from slipping when properly 'applied to a rope. These two semi-cylindrical portions A, B, are made of a suitable length and diameter and they form the gripping portions of the instrument which receive the rope, to which they are to be secured, between them.

a., a', are two eyes having straps b', formed on them which are secured to the outside and at about the middle of the length of their respectiveA portions A, B, by bolts, or in any other suitable manner, and to the end of strap ZJ, a curved strap c, is hinged as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. This curved portion c, has a number of holes through it which allow it to be attached to the pin (Z, projecting from the end of strap b', at different points in the length of the hinged portion c. This portion c, is used to connect one side of the gripping portions A, B, together and to allow these portions to be opened for the reception of the rope to which the instrument is to be secured. On the opposite side of the portions A, B, and through the eyes a, a, passes loosely the long' tapering link C, which is made very narrow at its top and gradually wider toward its lower end. Between this tapering link C, and the portions A, B, is interposed a curved quadrangular link D, which passes transversely across the instrument, and through which the eyes a, a, pass, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. This link D, serves to keep the grippingportions A, B, in their proper positions, and to prevent them from opening too wide, but it is not essential to the working of the instrument; a link E, is connected with the tapering link C, and to this link E, the tackle block is hooked in using the instrument.

Now it will be seen from the foregoing description that by detaching the hinged strap c, from the pin d, the portions A, B, may be opened and put around a rope, when the strap c, is again secured over pin al. The link C, now being drawn downward with some force will compress the gripping portions A, B, tightly around the rope and embed the ribs on the inside surfaces of portions A, B, irmly into the surface of the rope so that these portions A, B, will not be liable to slip while the link C, is drawn tight, and it will be seen that the tighter the link C, is drawn the more firmly will the portions A, B, be clamped to the rope. The number of holes in the hinged strap c, to receive the pin d, on portion B, together with the tapering link C, will admit of the portions A, B, being adjusted for receiving ropes of different diameters so that the use of the instrument is not confined to ropes of one size.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-` Combining with the two gripping jaws A, B, the hinged fastening c, and the tapering link C, working in eyes a, a', substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

GEO. W.. SOULE.

Witnesses RoT.v S. SoULE, FRANK BAmLE'iT- 

